Group and polynomial identities in group rings (Q824460)

Let \(FG\) be a group ring of a group \(G\) over a field \(F\) of characteristic \(p \geq 0\) and let \(U(FG)\) be the unit group of \(FG\). It is well known that a subset \(S\) of \(U(F G)\) satisfies a group identity if there exists a non-trivial reduced word \(w(x_1,\ldots,x_n)\) in the free group on countably many generators \( x_1, x_2,\ldots\), such that \(w(g_1,\ldots,g_n)\) = 1 for all \(g_1,\ldots,g_n \in S\). A subset \(V\) of \(FG\) satisfies a polynomial identity if there exists a non-zero element \(f(x_1,\ldots,x_m)\) in the free algebra \(F\{x_1, x_2,\ldots\}\) on non-commuting indeterminates such that \(f(a_1,\ldots,a_m)\) = 0 for all \(a_i\in V\). Let the group G has an involution \(*\). The \(F\)-linear extension of \(*\) to \(FG\) is an involution of \(FG\), also denoted by \(*\). The group \(U(FG)\) satisfies a \(*\)-group identity if there exists a non-trivial word \(w(x_1, x_1^* ,\ldots,x_n, x_n^*)\) in the free group with involution \(\langle x_1, x_1^*,x_2, x_2^* ,\ldots\rangle\), such that \(w(a_1, a_1^* ,\ldots,a_n, a_n^*)\) = 1 for all \(a_i\in U(F G)\). Let \(U_n(FG) : =\{\alpha \vert \alpha \in FG, \alpha \alpha^* =1\}\) be the subgroup of its unitary units. Brian Hartley stated the following conjecture. Conjecture 1.1. If \(G\) is a torsion group and \(U(FG)\) satisfies a group identity, then \(FG\) satisfies a polynomial identity. This survey does a review of the most relevant results that arose from the proof of this conjecture and discuss some recent developments and open questions connected with \(*\)-group identities for \(U(FG)\) and group identities for the subgroup of its unitary units. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1461.16003].